EXHIBIT 10.4
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
By this Agreement, Alliance Trophy Club, Inc., a Delaware corporation
referred to in this Agreement as "Employer," located at 0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxx 00000, employs XXXXXXXX X. XXXXXX, referred to in this Agreement as
"Employee," who accepts employment on the following terms and conditions:
THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION UNDER THE TEXAS GENERAL
ARBITRATION ACT.
ARTICLE 1
TERM OF EMPLOYMENT
1.1 Term of Employment. By this Agreement, the Employer employs the
Employee, and the Employee accepts employment with the Employer, for a period of
three (3) years beginning on the 1st day of May, 1997; however, this Agreement
may be terminated earlier, as provided in Article 7, below.
ARTICLE 2
COMPENSATION
2.1 Basic Compensation. As basic compensation for all services rendered
under this Agreement the Employee shall be paid by the Employer a salary of
$75,000 per year, payable in equal monthly installments of $6,250.00 on the
first day of each month during the period of employment. The amount paid is to
be pro
rated for any partial employment. The basic compensation stated herein is gross
salary. Employee's basic compensation will be reviewed on an annual basis by
Employer's Board of Directors and may be adjusted based upon the Company's
profitability, growth and Employee's contribution to the Company's financial
success.
2.2 Incentive Compensation - Share of Profits. In addition to the basic
compensation hereinabove stated, the Employee shall be entitled to receive a
bonus if, as and when determined by the Board of Directors of the Employer in
its discretion based upon the Company's profitability, growth and Employee's
contribution to the Company's financial success.
2.3 Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled to an annual vacation leave of
three weeks at full pay for the first year following the execution of this
Agreement and the Employee shall be entitled to an annual vacation leave of four
weeks at full pay for the second and third years following the execution of this
Agreement. The time for such vacation shall be selected by the Employee in
consultation with the Board of Directors, whose approval shall not be withheld
unreasonably, so as to provide minimal disruption to Employer's business, and it
must be taken within the calendar year after its accrual, or it is forfeited.
ARTICLE 3
DUTIES OF EMPLOYEE
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3.1 Duties. The Employee is employed as Chairman of the Board and agrees to
serve as an officer of Employer and its subsidiaries, if any, as determined from
time to time by the Employer's Board of Directors. As Chairman of the Board,
Employee will be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and perform the
customary duties thereof and such other duties as may be required of Employee by
the Board of Directors from time to time during the term of employment.
3.2 Extent of Services. The Employee shall devote such time, attention and
efforts to the business of the Employer during the term of this Agreement as may
be necessary in his sole discretion for the performance of his duties hereunder.
ARTICLE 4
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND BONUSES
4.1 Medical Benefits. The Employer agrees to include the Employee in the
hospital, surgical, and medical benefit plan as adopted by the Employer's Board
of Directors.
4.2 Automobile Allowance. The Employer agrees to provide the Employee an
automobile allowance of $500.00 per month which shall include all costs of the
vehicle, gasoline, and all travel expenses when away from the Employer's
principal place of business.
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ARTICLE 5
REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED BY EMPLOYEE
5.1 Business Expenses. The Employee will be authorized from time to time in
the form of an operating budget approved by Employer's Board of Directors to
incur reasonable business expenses for promoting the business of the Employer.
The Employer will reimburse the Employee for all such expenses upon the
Employee's monthly presentation and itemized account of such expenditures.
Employee agrees to abide by the guidelines for reimbursable business expenses
which may be adopted by Employer's Board of Directors from time to time.
ARTICLE 6
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS OF PARTIES
6.1 Trade Secrets. During the term of employment, the Employee will have
access to and become familiar with various trade secrets, consisting of devices,
secret inventions, processes, compilations of information, records, and
specifications, owned by the Employer and regularly used in the operation of the
business of the Employer. The Employee shall not disclose any such trade
secrets, directly or indirectly, nor use them in any way, either during the term
of this Agreement or at any time thereafter, except as required in the course of
his employment by Employer. All files, records, documents, drawings,
specifications, equipment, and
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similar items relating to the business of the Employer, whether or not prepared
by the Employee, shall remain the exclusive property of the Employer and shall
not be removed from the premises of the Employer under any circumstances without
the prior written consent of the Employer.
6.2 Confidential Information. Employee is employed by Employer in a
position of trust and confidence in which Employee will acquire confidential
information of Employer. All information relating to the business of Employer,
including but not limited to company records, the identity and addresses of
customers and suppliers of Employer, the agreements of Employer with customers
and suppliers, including pricing information and technical and financial data
and information of Employer, or information relating to the business of Employer
or the marketing techniques and sales procedures of Employer, are confidential
and shall be held in strict confidence by Employee during employment and after
the termination of employment. Employer intends for Employee to keep all
confidential information protected and undisclosed except as required by the
fulfillment of Employee's duties for Employer.
6.3 Return of Employer's Property. On the termination of employment or
whenever requested by the Employer, the Employee shall immediately deliver to
the Employer all property in the Employee's possession or under the Employee's
control belonging to Employer.
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6.4 Inventions and Patents. The Employee agrees that any inventions,
designs, improvements, and discoveries made by the Employee during the term of
his employment, solely or jointly with others, which are made with the
Employer's equipment, supplies, facilities, trade secrets, or time, or which
relate to the business of the Employer or the Employer's actual or anticipated
research or development, or which result from any work performed by the Employee
for the Employer, shall be the exclusive property of the Employer. The Employee
agrees that he will promptly and fully inform and disclose to the Employer of
such inventions, designs, improvements, and discoveries, and the Employee
promises to assign such inventions to the Employer. The Employee also agrees
that the Employer shall have the right to keep such inventions as trade secrets,
if the Employer chooses. The Employee shall assist the Employer in obtaining
patents in the United States and in all foreign countries on all inventions,
designs, improvements, and discoveries deemed patentable by the Employer, and
shall execute all documents and do all things necessary to obtain letters of
patents, to invest the company with full and extensive titles to the patents,
and to protect the patents against infringement by others.
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ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION
7.1 Termination Prior to Expiration of Employment Term. This Agreement may
be terminated, and the Employee discharged, prior to the expiration of its term
as set forth herein or only by mutual agreement of Employee and Employer.
7.2 Termination by Employer for Cause. The Employer may at its option
terminate this Agreement by giving written notice of termination to the Employee
without prejudice to any other remedy to which the Employer may be entitled
either at law, in equity, or under this Agreement, if the Employee:
7.2.1 Willfully breaches or habitually neglects the duties that
the Employee is required to perform under the terms of this
Agreement; or
7.2.2 Willfully violates reasonable and substantial rules
governing Employee's performance, after notice in writing of
the rules governing Employee's performance; or
7.2.3 Refuses to perform the duties assigned to the Employee by
the Employer's Board of Directors; or
7.2.4 Commits acts defined by the penal laws of the United States
or any of the various states of the United States as a
felony.
7.3 Termination on Grounds other than for Good Cause. This Agreement shall
terminate on the occurrence of any one of the following events without cause:
7.3.1 The termination of the business of the Employer; or
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7.3.2 The death of the Employee; or
7.3.3 The loss by the Employee of legal capacity; or
7.3.4 The continued incapacity on the part of the Employee to
perform his duties for a continuous period of 180 days,
unless waived by the Employer; or
7.3.5 Employer fails to allow Employee to perform the duties
described in Section 3.1 hereinabove; Employee shall give
written notice to Employer of such failure and Employer
shall have thirty (30) days in which to cure such failure
before this Agreement shall be terminated.
7.4 Effective Termination. In the event of the termination of this
Agreement prior to the completion of the term of employment specified in it, for
any of the reasons set forth in Article 7, the Employee shall be entitled to the
compensation earned prior to the date of termination as provided for in this
Agreement, computed pro rata up to and including the date of termination.
ARTICLE 8
GENERAL PROVISIONS
8.1 Notices. All notices or other communications required under this
Agreement may be effected either by personal delivery in writing or by certified
mail, return receipt requested. Notice shall be deemed to have been given when
delivered or mailed to the parties at their respective addresses as set forth
above or
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when mailed to the last address provided in writing to the other
party by the addressee.
8.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, specifically including without
limitation the covenant not to compete contained in this Agreement.
8.3 Venue. This Agreement is performable in Xxxxxx County, Texas.
8.4 Agreement to Submit to Arbitration on Written Request. Any controversy
between the parties to this Agreement involving the construction or application
of any of the terms, covenants, or conditions of this Agreement, shall on the
written request of one party served on the other, be submitted to arbitration.
Arbitration shall comply with and be governed by the provisions of the Texas
General Arbitration Act, Articles 224 through 238-6 of the Revised Civil
Statutes of Texas. Each of the parties to this Agreement shall appoint one
person as an arbitrator to hear and determine the dispute, and if they shall be
unable to agree, then the two arbitrators so chosen shall select a third
impartial arbitrator whose decision shall be final and conclusive upon the
parties to this Agreement. The expenses of arbitration proceedings conducted
pursuant to this paragraph shall be borne by the parties in such proportions as
the arbitrators shall decide.
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8.5 Entirety. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between
the parties reoarding the subject matter hereof. No Agreements, representations,
or warranties other than those specifically set forth in this Agreement shall be
binding on any of the parties unless set forth in writing and signed by both
parties. This Agreement supersedes all other prior agreements, either oral or in
writing, between the parties with respect to the employment of the Employee by
the Employer and contains all of the covenants and agreements between the
parties with respect to such employment in any manner. Each party to this
Agreement acknowledges that no inducements or promises, oral or otherwise, have
been made by any party, or anyone acting on behalf of any party, that are not
embodied in this Agreement.
8.6 Modification. This Agreement shall not be amended, modified, or altered
in any manner except in writing signed by both parties.
8.7 Assignment. The Employer and the Employee acknowledge that the services
to be rendered by the Employee under this Agreement are unique and personal.
Therefore, neither party may assign any rights or delegate any duties under this
Agreement, without the other party's prior written consent. If either the
Employer or the Employee obtains a consent to an assignment of rights or
delegations of duties, rights or duties under this Agreement it shall inure only
to the benefit of the assignee or
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delagee named in the written instrument, and such consent shall not be deemed as
a general consent to assignment or delegation.
EXECUTED as of May 1, 1997.
EMPLOYER
ALLIANCE TROPHY CLUB, INC.
By:
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Xxxxx Xxxxx, President
EMPLOYEE
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Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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